Editor's note: For information about IBM, Lenovo, and ThinkPad and ThinkCentre products, click here. (5/5/05) Editor's note: We have changed the ratings in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Find out more here. Outfitted for corporate cubicles, the IBM ThinkCentre S50 may also be just the thing for small offices with an eye toward data management and PC usability. A laughably easy-to-access interior showcases a series of capable parts, although SOHO users should look into swapping the CD-ROM for a CD-RW. Our test system's performance was hampered by an older Pentium 4 processor that could not take advantage of the system's newer Intel 865G chipset, but choosing a compatible CPU should improve the ThinkCentre S50's efficiency. This system's true claim to fame is its IT-management software, which includes Rapid Restore for preserving data and applications in case of system failure, and Access IBM, a configuration utility. Combined with IBM's copious warranty services, the ThinkCentre S50 is one of the finest business-minded PCs to pass through our Labs.
The IBM ThinkCentre S50 may not win any design awards on its looks alone, but this plain, black box is one of the easiest-to-use PCs we've seen--and business users will take function over form any day. The ThinkCentre S50's slim chassis can lie horizontally or stand vertically. The entire case is tool-free; just press a button on each side panel to open the case, revealing an interior that will draw applause from IT departments far and near. The hard drive and the CD-ROM drive are latched into place and are easy to remove and exchange. The drive bays themselves fold out at a 90-degree angle, giving you full access to the system's motherboard.
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BAPCo SysMark2002 rating | |
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SysMark2002 Internet content creation | |
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SysMark2002 office productivity | |
Dell Dimension 4600C (Intel 865G)
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HP d325 Business Desktop (Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440 AGP 8X)
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Systemax Venture LP U26R (Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440)
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IBM ThinkCentre S50 (Intel 865G)
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ZT Group Home Office Desktop A5003 (Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra)
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To measure application performance, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's SysMark2002, an industry-standard benchmark. Using off-the-shelf applications, SysMark measures a desktop's performance using office-productivity applications (such as Microsoft Office and McAfee VirusScan) and Internet-content-creation applications (such as Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Dreamweaver).
3D graphics and gaming performance
Integrated graphics solutions don't usually provide the level of 3D graphics performance needed for applications with demanding 3D graphics requirements. The ThinkCentre S50 is no exception. Despite the name of the Intel 865G's graphics solution--Intel Extreme Graphics 2--the ThinkCentre S50 will not be able to run most of the high-end games available today. Then again, this fact might just improve your office's productivity. And Intel Extreme Graphics 2 provides approximately twice the performance of Intel's first integrated graphics solution.
3D graphics performance (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Futuremark's 3DMark 2001 Second Edition Build 330 (16-bit color) | |
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Futuremark's 3DMark 2001 Second Edition Build 330 (32-bit color) | |
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ZT Group Home Office Desktop A5003 (Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra)
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HP d325 Business Desktop (Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440 AGP 8X)
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Systemax Venture LP U26R (Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440)
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Dell Dimension 4600C (Intel 865G)
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IBM ThinkCentre S50 (Intel 865G)
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To measure 3D graphics performance, CNET Labs uses Futuremark's 3DMark2001 Pro Second Edition, Build 330. We use 3DMark to measure a desktop's performance with the DirectX 8 (DX8) interface at both 16- and 32-bit color settings at a resolution of 1,024x768. A system that does not have DX8 hardware support will typically generate a lower score than one that has DX8 hardware support.
3D gaming performance in fps (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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ZT Group Home Office Desktop A5003 (Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra)
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HP d325 Business Desktop (Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440 AGP 8X)
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Systemax Venture LP U26R (Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440)
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Dell Dimension 4600C (Intel 865G)
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IBM ThinkCentre S50 (Intel 865G)
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To measure 3D gaming performance, CNET Labs uses Quake III Arena. Although Quake III is an older game, it is still widely used as an industry-standard tool. Quake III does not require DX8 hardware support--as 3DMark2001 does--and is therefore an excellent means of comparing the performance of low- to high-end graphics subsystems. Quake III performance is reported in frames per second (fps).
Find out more about how we test desktop systems.
System configurations: Dell Dimension 4600C
Windows XP Home; 2.8GHz Intel P4; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Intel 865G 64MB; Seagate ST3120023A 120GB 7,200rpm
HP d325 business desktop
Windows XP Professional; 2.17GHz AMD Athlon XP 3000+; Nvidia Nforce-2; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440 AGP 8X 64MB; Maxtor 6Y0160L0 160GB 7,200rpm
IBM ThinkCentre S50
Windows XP Professional; 2.66GHz Intel P4; Intel 865G chipset; 256MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; integrated Intel 865G 64MB (shared memory); IBM IC35L40AVV207 40GB 7,200rpm
Systemax Venture LP U26R
Windows XP Professional; Intel 845G/GL chipset; 2.66GHz Intel P4; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440 64MB; Samsung SP8004H 80GB 7,200rpm
ZT Group Home Office Desktop A5003
Windows XP Professional; Nvidia Nforce-2 chipset; 1.83GHz AMD Athlon XP 2500+; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra 128MB; Seagate ST3120023A 120GB 7,200rpm
IBM backs the ThinkCentre S50 with bulletproof support policies that are a sure fit for businesses, large or small. There's a lengthy three-year warranty that includes onsite service, and lifetime, toll-free phone support is available 24/7. IBM's support site also offers a wealth of downloads and support data, including a detailed troubleshooting area. You can even submit service requests online. And if your system crashes, you have, at your disposal, a user manual that provides troubleshooting advice in addition to setup directions.
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